From "Bizzarie di varie Figure"
1624
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1624
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a strange, skeletal horse made of tiny, stacked blocks. On its back, a rider clings on, also built from the same block-like shapes. The horse’s legs are twisted in mid-leap, and the whole scene floats against a plain background. The blocks look like they’re made of stacked bricks or bones, giving the animal a weird, almost mechanical feel. This style was common in Baroque art, where artists played with odd shapes and perspectives. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
